Means for electrically operating confessional slides



March 31, 1931.

G. UNGERLIEDER ET AL 1,798,819

MEANS FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATING CONFESSION AL SLIDES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1929 M, t E L 2 R W Z W a ATTORNEYS.

March 1931- G. UNGERLIEDER ET A];

MEANS FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATING CONFESSIONAL SLIDES Filed Sept. 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a zmm Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICER GABRIEL UNGERLIEDER, OF MOORES, AND FRANCIS T. KENNEY AND JOHN A. BARRON, OF CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA MEANS FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATING CONFESSIONAL SLIDES Application filed September 5, 1929. Serial No. 390,508.

Our invention relates to a new and useful means for electrically operating confessional slides, particularly adapted for raising and lowering the slides forming part of a confessional chamber in churches where the sacrai'nent of penance forms part of the ritual and creed.

As is well known, when a person wishes to make confession, he stands or kneels in his compartment which adjoins the priests compartment, in which the priest is positioned, such confessional being provided with horizontal sliding windows whereby the priest and the person making the confession are enabled to converse, without seeing each other.

It is further well known that the confessional chamber is provided usually with two such windows, each of which may be closed, when not in use, by a movable shutter, or slide which the priest within the chamber operates manually from within, with resultant fatigue to the priest and with a disturbing noise to the congregation within the church.

It is the purpose of our invention to provide means for noiselessly, and mechanr rally operating the slides or shutters of a confessional and to that end our invention consists of the novel combination of a re versible electric motor adapted to revolve a flanged pulley or drum in either direction, :1 rope, or similar connection wound around said pulley and connected at its free ends to two oppositely disposed slides one adapted to be up when. the other is down, and an electric switch for starting, stopping and revcrsing said motor.

Our invention further consists of a novel manner of collocating the reversible motor, flanged pulley, the actuating mechanism common thereto, the connection wound around said pulley, and the small pulleys fastened to opposite walls of the confessional, above and in vertical alignment with the center of the confessional slides where by the latter are automatically raised and lowered noiselesslv and without binding in their ways or guides.

It further consists in collocating the above mentioned elements with a reversing or control switch withln the confessional in proximity to the seat forth'e priest, so that the latter without leaving his seat can, by the de 'n'ession of whichever switch button is up, actuate the desired confessional slide manual 1y without leaving his seatand without fatigue, said switch being equally well adapted to be operated by the foot if so desired.

It further consists in the novel construction of a control switch, which is preferably a single pole, double throw, reversible, m0- mentary control, push button switch.

Our invention further consists of various other novel features of advantage and construction which willbe hereinafter described and claimed.

For the purpose of illustrating our invention we have shown in the accompanying drawing one form thereof which is at present preferred by us, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, althoughit is to be understood that the various instrume'ntalities of which our invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that our invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1, represents a perspective view of the inside of a confessional provided with a novel mechanism for operating the confessional slides, embodying our invention.

Figure 2, represents a section on line 22 of Fig. 1, showing one of the confessional slides andthe ways on guides therefor;

Figure 3, represents a plan View. of the switch partly in section, the section being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

F igure 4, represents a vertical section on line 4:-fl of Fig. 3.

' Figure 5, represents a vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. 1

Figure 6, represents a vertical section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4:.

Figure 7 represents a perspective view of a part of the switch mechanism shown detached.

Referring to the drawingsin which like reference characters indicate like parts, 1 designates a confessional of the usual construction, of which only the two opposite walls 2 and 3 are shown. 4 designates a seat which is positioned at any desired point intermediate the walls 2 and 3 and upon which the priest receiving the confession sits. In the walls 2 and 3 are provided the windows or openings 5 and 6 which are closed, when not in use, by the slides 7 and 8 which are vertically slidable in the ways 9 as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2. The slide 7 has an eye or the like 10, to which is secured one end of the cable 11 by a snap hook or the like, which passes over the pulley 12 on the wall 2, which pulley is in vertical alignment-with said eye, said cable or rope then passing around the flanged pulley or drum 13 and the pulley 14 on the wall 3, the other end of said cable being secured to the eye 15 on the slide 8, the length of the cable 11 and the arrangement of parts being such that when the slide 8 is in its lower position, closing the opening or window 6, the opposite slide 7 is in its upper position leaving the window 5 open, sothat the penitent at the window 5 may make his communication to the priest sitting on the seat 4 without being overheard by a person waiting at the closed window 6, and without being seen by the priest. The pulley 14 is in vertical alignment with the eye 15 and the center of the flanged pulley 13 is on a line with the center of the slides. The slides 7 and 8 are alternately raised and lowered by manipulation of the switch buttons 16 and 17, forming part of the switch 18 which is shown in detail in Figs. 3 to 7 and which will be hereinafter further described. A supporting bracket 19, seen in Fig. 1, is attached to a wall of the chamber 1 and comprises the horizontal bed 20, the vertical pendant wall 21, and the central remforcmg web 22. A series wound, split field, reversible motor 23 is suitably supported .on the bed and is energized by the three wire cable or electrical conductor 24. 25 designates the motor shaft which carries the single thread right hand steel worm 26, which is in mesh with the worm gear 27 mounted on the shaft 28, which rotates in the bearings 29, said shaft also carrying the flanged pulley or drum 13 hereinabove referred to. A collar and 30 is provided at each end of the shaft 28 to maintain the worm gear 27 at all times in its proper alignment with theworm 26, the collar 30 being a part of the flanged pulley 13.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 7, the switch 18 comprises the upper cover brass plate 31 secured to the supporting bracket 32 by the screws 33, passing through the holes 34. To the underside of the brass plate 31 is secured the insulating plate 35 by means or the e uatersunk screw 36, the lower threaded end-of Y which engages the nut 37 which embedded in the flange 38 of the switch casing 39. To the underside of the insulating plate 35 is secured the central bracket 41, to which is secured one end of the electric conductor 42, the other end of which merges into the cable 24 leading to the motor 23. To the lower portion of the bracket 41 is pivoted a lever 43 seen detached in Fig. 7 and having the opposite arms 44 and 45 which are provided with the U-shaped terminals 46 and 47 in which are pivotally mounted the push buttons 16 and 17 by means of the pins 49. 50 and 51 designate brackets suitably secured to the insulating plate 35 and provided with the contacts and 56. The brackets 50 and 51 are in alignment with and below the U- shaped terminals 46 and 47 of the arms 44 and 45 which carry the push buttons 16 and 17. said U-shaped terminals being provided with the bottom contacts 52 and 53 which are adapted tocontact with the contacts 55 and 56 on the brackets 50 and 51, when one or the other of the push buttons 16 and 17 is depressed. as will be understood from Figs. 4 and The brackets 50 and 51 are energized by the wires 57 and 58, which together with the wire 42' form the cable 24 leading to the motor 23. The operation is as follows V iVhen it is desired to raise the slide 7 to listen to a penitent at the window 5, the button 17 is depressed to bring the contact 53 on the underside of the U-shaped terminal 47 of the arm-45 of the lever 43 into contact with the contact 56 on the bracket 51 to complete the circuit between thc'wires 42 and 58, to run the motor 23 in a counter clockwise direction, to revolve the pulley or drum 13 over which passes the. cable 11, thereby raising the slide 7. so that the pm'ts appear as seen at the left of 1. If on the -other hand, it is desired to listen to the penite-nt at'the opposite window 6, the button 16 1s depressed to establish contact between the contact point 52 on the underside of the U- shaped terminal 46 of the arm 44 of the lever 43 and the contact point 55 on the bracket 50, to complete the circuit between the wires 42 and 57 to run the motor 23 in a clockwise direction, to raise the'slide 8. The rope 11 1 is wound once around the pulley or drum 13 and is of such a length that when one of the slides 7 is in its upper position, the other slide 8 is in its lower position, thus insuring the closing of one of the windows 5 and 6 at all times. hen one of the slides as 7 is in its lowermost position the tension on the rope 11 attached'thereto is relieved, and the further raising of the other slide 8 is automatically stoppeddue to the resultant loose- 1 ness of the rope 11 on the pulley 13.- When the confessi-mialchamber is not in use, the motor 23 is" kept an ofl? osition by means of the coil springs 60 and 161 and 'the flat springs 62 and 63 in the renewing manner.

lVhen the button 17 is depressed, and the finger pressm'e is relieved, the coil spring (51 pulls upwardly on the arm d of the lever 13 to break the contactbetween the contact points 56 and 53. The flat spring (33 teen engages the arm 4C5 of the lever 43 and maintains the button 17 in a partly depressed non-contacting position. In this position of the parts the button 16 is also in a slightly depressed non-contact position and the motor 23 is turned off. lVhen the button 16 is depressed, the button 17 is raised into its uppermost position, by action of the lever l3, against the tension of the flat spring (33, and the button 16 is lowered into contacting position against the tension of the springs l and 62 to complete the circuit between the contacts 52 and 55. When the pressure on the button 16 is relieved, it is raised by the coil spring 60 to break the circuit and the flat spring 62 engages the arm 44 of the lever 43 to retain the button 17 in partly raised noncontacting position, and the button 17 is again depressed.

It will thus be seen that we have devised novel means for alternately raising and lowering the opposite slides of a confessional chamber without manual eitort on the part of the priest and that the raising of one slide and the lowering of the other slide is cti'ected automatically and by a single operation or depression of one or the other of the buttons 16 and 17.

It will be seen from the foregoing that our novel device etl'ects a great saving of labor and energy as the slide actuating operation has been heretofore performed by hand at the expense of consideral'ile physical exertion on the part of the priest. There is a great convcnieiure of operation by means of the control switch which can he placed at any point that is convenient to the priestoperating the slides. There is great freedom given to the arms, as the switch buttons can be depressed by the left hand leaving right arm free; or by foot leaving free the left hand and right arm.

Our novel switch dilfers from other switches since it does not require any thought on the part of the priestas to which button to depress to reverse the slides, due to the fact that one of the buttons will always remain at a higher level than the other one.

The automatic stopping of the slides is effooted without any attention of the priest, this being accomplished by the fact that the transmission rope has one complete turn or loop around the flanged pulley 13 and by using flexible rope, when one slide reaches its lower terminus, the flexible rope which is fastened to that slide becomes loose around the pulley due to the fact that the wei, 1 of the slide is resting on its lowest store, and iTflG flanged pulley may continue to revolve without imparting any motion to the slides. This is also true of the reverse direction.

The power consumed is very small, as both slides are of the same weight and act. as a counterbalance to each other, which facilitates the movement of the slides, and renders the opening and closing of the slides noiseless, as is evident. i

We are aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdcparting from thespirit or essential attributes thereof, and we therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to theappended claims rather than to the foregoing'description to indicate the scope of the invention. 1 7

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desireto secureby Letters Patent, is: i

1. In a device for operating confessional slides, the combination of opposite confes sional walls having openings therein, slides for said openings, small pulleysmounted on said opposite walls in vertical alignment with the centers of said slides, a larger flanged pulley supported intermediately of and above said slides and in alignmentv with the centers of the latter, a rope having its ends secured to the centers of said slides, and its intermediate portion passed around said flanged pulley. and means for rotating said flanged pulley in either direction automatically and simul aneouslyto raise and lower said slides.

2. In adevice for operating confessional slides, the con1bi1nttion of opposite. confessional walls :having openings therein, slides for said openings, centrally disposedows at the topof said slides, small pulleysmounted on said. walls in vertical alignment with said eyes, a larger flanged pulley supported intern'iediately of and above said slides and in alignment with the centers of the latter, a rope having its ends secured tosaid eyes and its intermediate portion passed once around said-flanged pulley and means for rotating said pulley in either direction simultaneously to raise or lower said slides.

3. In a device of thecharacter stated, the combination of opposite confessional walls having openings therein, slides for said openings, a series wound, split field, universal, roversible motor, supported from one of said walls above said slides, actuating mechanism driven by said motor for alternately raising and lowering said slides-, and a single pole, double throw, reversible push button switch positioned within said Walls and electrically connected to said motor for actuating the latter in opposite directions. I

4. In a device of the character stated, the combination of opposite confessional walls having openings therein, slides for said openings, a serieswound, split field, universal, reversible motor, supported from one of said walls above'said slides, actuating mechanism drivenby said motor for alternately raising llli and loweringsaid slides, a single pole, douto said motor for actuating the latter in opble throw, reversible push button switch poposite directions, and means on said switch sitioned within said-walls and electrically for rendering said motor temporarily inopconnected to said motor for actuating the laterative, when the confessional is not in use.

5 ter in opposite directions, and means on said GABRIEL UNGERLIEDER.

switch for rendering said motor temporarily FRANCIS T. KENNEY. inoperative, when the confessional is not in JOHN A. BARRON.

use. 7

1 5. In a device of thecharaoter stated, the i0 combination of confessional walls having openings therein, of slides controlling said openings, a series wound, split field, universal, reversible electric motor supported from one of said walls above said slides, a motor 7 shaft, a worm on said motor'shaft, a-worm gear shaft arranged transversely to said motor shaft, a worm gear thereon in mesh with said worm, a flanged pulley on said worm gear shaft arranged'with its center in alignment with the center of said slides, smaller pulleys mounted on said walls in alignment with the centers of said slides, and a rope having its ends secured to the centers of said slides, and its intermediate portion passed once around said flanged pulley. I I p 6. In a device ofthe character stated, the combination of confessional Walls having openings therein, of slides controlling said openings, 2. series wound, split field, univer- 39 sal, reversible electric motor supported from I V one of said walls above said slides, a motor shaft, a worm on said motor shaft, a worm gear shaft arranged transversely to said m0- tor shaft, a Worm gear thereon in mesh with said worm, a flanged pulley on said worm gear shaft arranged with its center in align- V ment with the center of said slides, smaller pulleys mounted on said walls in alignment with the centers of said slides, and a rope having its ends secured to the centers of said slides, and its intermediate portion. passed once around said flanged pulley, and a single throw, reversible, push button switch positioned within said walls and electricallyconnected to said motor for actuating the latter I no in opposite directions.

7. In a device of the character state-d,the combination of confessional walls having openings therein, of slides controlling said 50 openings, a series wound, split field, umversal, reversible electric motor supported from one of said walls above said slides, a motor shaft, a worm on said motor shaft, a worm gear shaft arranged transversely to said motor shaft, a worm gear thereon in mesh with r o saidworm, a flanged pulley on said worm gear shaft arranged with its center in alignment with the center of said slides, smaller pulleys mounted on said walls in alignment CO with the centers of said slides, a rope having 5 its ends secured to the centers of said slides and its intermediate portion passed once around said flanged pulley, a single throw, reversible, push button switch positioned 65 within said-walls and electrically connected r I v 

